Bright futures for trio

BIG TIME: Shoobridge Transport mechanic Mitch Aldcroft has won a career-building chance to attend the 2014 PACCAR and Dealer Technical Maintenance conference as part of the annual Cummins Scholarship.Contributed

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THREE talented young industry professionals have been awarded a career-making chance to attend the 2014 PACCAR and Dealer Technical Maintenance conference as part of the annual Cummins Scholarship.

Chosen for their technical skill and passion for the trade, Daracon auto electrician Kaitlyne Watson, Shoobridge Transport mechanic Mitch Aldcroft and CJD Trucks heavy duty technician James Challis received the news of their scholarship last week.

Daracon Transport maintenance manager Greg Morris, who originally nominated Kaitlyne for the scholarship, said the opportunity was well deserved.

"I think it's exciting for Kaitlyne and Daracon, she is a hardworking and talented auto electrician," Mr Morris said.

"I know this industry isn't the most female-orientated area, but Kaitlyne holds her own," he said.

Mr Morris hoped the time in Melbourne would equip Kaitlyne with new skills and ideas about her future as an auto electrician.

For fellow scholarship recipient James Challis, the news is just as exciting.

"My boss announced the news to me at a work barbecue - it was all overwhelming, I've never been to Melbourne before," he said.

Now into his third year of training, Mr Challis is still happy with his choice of profession.

"I'm not sure why but I've always liked working with cars and trucks. It's strange because my dad and his dad were farmers," the 21-year-old joked.

However for Shoobridge Transport mechanic Mitch Aldcroft, trucking was in the blood.

"I started off here washing them at 14. I had a love for the way they look, sound and feel so at that age making them shiny-suited," he said.

A big fan of Cummins, Mitch hopes to speak with a few of the company professionals.

"I want to meet someone from as high-up as I can, their engines are so interesting - they are a league of their own."

Each scholarship recipient will receive one full delegate registration to attendance at the Castrol Awards Dinner as well as accommodation while at the conference in late October.

TMC 2014 will be held at the Automotive Centre of Excellence in Melbourne from Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 October 2014.